Obama announces another czar

As the GOP trains its fire on the plethora of czars in the Obama administration, the president announced the appointment of another one Monday who will advise him on manufacturing and automotive policy.

Ron Bloom , a former steelworkers union official, will serve as the administration’s senior counselor for manufacturing policy, and he will continue his work on the automotive task force, where he replaced Steve Rattner after his resignation as the nation’s car czar in July.

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“Last week, we learned that our manufacturing sector expanded for the first time in 18 months and had the highest monthly output in two years,” President Barack Obama said in a statement announcing Bloom’s new appointment. “It’s a sign that we’re on the right track to economic recovery but that we still have a long way to go. That’s why I’ve asked Ron Bloom to help coordinate my administration’s manufacturing policy.

“Distinguished by his extraordinary service on the auto task force and his extensive experience with both business and labor, Ron has the knowledge and experience necessary to lead the way in creating the good-paying manufacturing jobs of the future. We must do more to harness the power of American ingenuity and productivity so that we can put people back to work and unleash our full economic potential.”

Bloom’s appointment follows the resignation of the administration’s green jobs czar, Van Jones, last weekend, after controversy erupted over some of his statements and associations prior to joining the administration.

Bloom, founder of a financial firm, worked with several unions, including the United Auto Workers, Teamsters and Air Line Pilots Association, in their dealings with struggling companies. He has been on the auto task force since February.

“As we meet the challenges of globalization and technological change, it is vital to have a concerted effort across the administration to support an innovative, vibrant manufacturing sector,” Bloom said in a statement.